NSW Police knew the brothers who went on to fatally shoot two Queensland officers were “paranoid” at least 10 days before the killings, a coroner has heard.
State Coroner Terry Ryan, who is investigating the fatal shooting of six people at a rural Queensland property on December 12, 2022, today heard evidence for the first time from NSW Police officers.
Ryan was told that NSW Police had entered in case files in late November 2022 that one of the men who would later take part in the shootings, Nathaniel Train, 47, was “becoming paranoid and Godlike”.
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NSW Police had also added that his brother, Gareth Train, 46, had a “dislike of police and authority figures”.
A month later Queensland Constables Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, were shot dead by the brothers at Wieambilla, west of Brisbane, while attempting to locate Nathaniel Train.
NSW Police Sergeant Simon Thorpe testified in Brisbane Coroners Court today that he spoke to a close associate of Nathaniel Train at a regional NSW police station on November 23, 2022, about the procedure for reporting him missing.
Ryan heard Sgt Thorpe was shown a letter suggesting Nathaniel Train might in December 2022 attend the remote Wieambilla property owned by his brother and his sibling’s 45-year-old wife Stacey.
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Counsel assisting Ruth O’Gorman asked Sgt Thorpe if the close associate had informed him of their relationship with Gareth and Stacey Train.
“(The associate) … said the relationship was strained … Gareth had a dislike of police and authority figures. He was paranoid,” Sgt Thorpe said.
The close associate cannot be identified due to a court order.
Sgt Thorpe said the missing persons report was given an assessment of low risk that was later changed to high risk given Nathaniel Train had stopped taking heart medication.
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The close associate had said Train, following his cardiac arrest in August 2021, started refusing conventional medical treatment in November 2021 which was shortly before entering Queensland with the stated intent to go camping.
Ryan heard Sgt Thorpe discovered Train had an outstanding arrest warrant in Queensland for illegally crossing the border during COVID-19 lockdowns and for firearms offences.
Sgt Thorpe said he did not tell the close associate about the criminal charges as he was required to protect Train’s privacy.
Ryan heard Sgt Thorpe had made a report to the missing persons registry and also attempted to contact Gareth Train by phone and left a message.
“My main concern was that … Queensland police would likely be met with hostility and he would be unco-operative,” Sgt Thorpe said.
Gareth Train did not return Sgt Thorpe’s phone message but would send emails to the close associate on December 10, 2022 after learning of the missing persons report.
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Sgt Thorpe said he did not see the emails, forwarded by the close associate, until about six hours before the shootings and entered into the police files that the emails suggested Gareth Train had “symptoms of delusional paranoia”.
Sgt Thorpe was not involved in the decision to send four Queensland constables to the Wieambilla property.
About 20 minutes after Gareth and Nathaniel Train ambushed and opened fire on the four junior officers, Sgt Thorpe emailed the close associate to say there were no further updates in the case.
Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train went on to also kill their neighbour Alan Dare, 58, soon afterwards.
All three Trains were shot dead hours later by specialist officers after they refused to surrender and opened fire on a police armoured vehicle.
If you or someone you know is in need of support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue. In the event of an emergency dial Triple Zero (000).
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